Daily Carrier Breaks 20 Hour Hostage Crisis – the Right Way

ALTOONA, BLAIR COUNTY— Police credit several neighbors for coming together and helping a woman escape an assault.

Police say Henry Yancey held his ex-girlfriend hostage for more than 20 hours. He allegedly physically assaulted her throughout the night, threatened to kill her and stabbed her in the leg.

Friday morning she tried to make her escape, but Yancy, who was naked at the time, caught her and continued to assault her near the 1000 block of Lexington Avenue.

“There was a lot of ruckus,” said neighbor Tatiana Scriver. “They almost sounded like there was a stampede going through the building.”

Another neighbor Nicky Mimikos said, “He’s on top of her just punching her in the face. He got up and started stomping her in the face.”

That’s when another neighbor, Henry Oppenheim, saw what was going on and sprung into action.

“So I quickly ran into my room grabbed my gun and went out to defend her,” said Oppenheim “I said let her go. And then he finally did it.”

Oppenheim has a concealed carry permit and says he brings his gun almost everywhere he goes.

This was a bad situation that could have quickly gone from bad to worse. Already horrifying is the idea of being trapped in a house, beaten mercilessly, with no end in sight. The second, to know your neighbors are nearly helpless to do anything about it. Thankfully, today wasn’t one of those days. Henry Oppenheim, a neighbor to Henry Yancey, the alleged man behind the hostage situation, finally decided enough was enough.

In a swift move that ensured the safety of the woman and an end to this horrifying stalemate, Oppenheim simply leveled his concealed carry pistol directly at Yancey – who was allegedly beating his ex-girlfriend whom he had taken hostage for twenty some hours prior.

How Daily Carrying Ties Into Strong Communities

While details are still emerging surrounding this strange case, what is clear is the utter importance of daily carrying.

“And then we moved her to the front to get her safe and secure and away from him,” said Scriver.

“We all stick together and when we see a girl getting beat — we just don’t allow that,” said Mimikos

As for Oppenheim, he says he’d do it all over again.

“In a heartbeat. Not a second thought. No reservations.”

Mental preparedness to be a participant in one’s own defense and that of others begins with a willingness to carry concealed everyday. It’s people like Oppenheim who demonstrate the civic founding behind the idea of concealed carry weapons. Not just a statement or simply a cool thing to do – it’s a way to actively demonstrate that the lives of you and those around you are essential and you’re willing to take any and all steps to preserve them.

That’s what makes a community strong.

And thankfully, for this community, someone was willing to step up to the plate and say “enough’s enough.”

Reality Versus Perception of Concealed Carrying

This event isn’t anything out of the ordinary. Men and women across the country have come and continue to come to the rescue of themselves, their family members, and would-be victims of criminal activity. That does stop some organizations like the Violence Policy Center (VPC) from making grandiose, factually incorrect statements about the concealed carry community as a whole and the concept itself.

The biggest threat to a concealed carrier seeking to build the foundations of a strong community are organizations seeking to undermine him through pushing forward bad policy that places him at a disadvantage. Criminals are never hampered by policy decision. This is stuck tightly into the realm of law abiding citizens seeking to be responsible for their own well-being.

That’s why heroes like Oppenheim and so many others are so important. Oppenheim shows the true face of what it means to be a daily carrier – the willingness to use lethal force to protect someone and the training and understanding to know exactly how to apply it.

I am retired military. I have a conceiled carry permit but have never carried because If I go on base it’s against the rules. I was on the Navy rifle team, earned the Distinguished Rifleman award in 61 at Camp Perry. My last tour was district marksmanship instructor. When they did away with district instructors I wrote a two week course for instructors. One who I still correspond with said it was the best course he ever had. Now Obama wants only criminals to have guns, not law abiding citizens. Never happen. Get rid of criminals, (and Obama), not honest law abiding people who have the right to protect themselves and their family.

I thankGod for men like him! This is what we
Need to have, a watch out for our neighbors
To be there when a situation like this one
Happens to go to the rescue. Thank you, kin
Caring neighbor for what you did.

In this day and age of uncertainty, violence against defenseless victims and the hacking of the middle class to an all time low, it’s high time We The People of this great country defend ourselves. Most people I know are happy to see a responsible armed adult in the area, but we owe it to everyone around to keep our skills and minds sharp. Practice makes you better and never be afraid to take a class, read defense manuals or ask for help. We have to hone our skills because incompetence will give the 2nd amendment haters fuel for their fire.